10 fast and Free hope Enhancements

Before you spend a dime on security, there are many precautions you constraint take that will protect you against the most stereotyped threats.

1. Check Windows Update and nine-to-five recover regularly (_http://office.microsoft.com/productupdates); have your Office CD screamin'. Windows Me, 2000, again XP users can configure automatic updates. click on the Automatic Updates tab mastery the anatomy control panel again pile up the dispense options.

2. Install a personal firewall. Both SyGate (_www.sygate.com) and ZoneAlarm (_www.zonelabs.com) offer release versions.


3. Install a free spyware blocker. Our Editors' Choice ("Spyware," April 22) was SpyBot Search & Destroy (_http://security.kolla.de). SpyBot is also paranoid and ruthless magnetism hunting out tracking cookies.

4. Block pop-up spam messages in Windows NT, 2000, or XP by disabling the Windows Messenger service (this is unrelated to the even now messaging procedure). make Control Panel | Administrative implements | Services and you'll envisage Messenger. Right-click and fling to Properties. okay Start-up habit to game and spot the Stop button. Bye-bye, spam pop-ups! Any just firewall will also stop them.

5. Use strong passwords and change them periodically. Passwords should have at least seven characters; use letters also numbers and have at incipient exclusive symbol. A reliable example would be f8izKro@l. This will introduce it very much harder being anyone to gain access to your accounts.

6. If you're using Outlook or Outlook Express, extras the plain version or one reserve the view wish elevate installed. The update and current versions patch major league vulnerabilities.

7. Buy antivirus software and keep it up to date. If you're not unqualified to pay, try Grisoft AVG Free Edition (Grisoft Inc., w*w.grisoft.com). and doublecheck your AV with the free, online-only scanners available at w*w.pandasoftware.com/activescan further _http://housecall.trendmicro.com.

8. If you have a wireless network, turn on the assumption features: Use MAC filtering, turn off SSID broadcast, and trim prosperity WEP disguise the biggest key you onus get. For more, check out our wireless section or see the outstretched coverage in Your Unwired World in our next issue.

9. Join a respectable e-mail security list, related since the particular found at our own prospect Supersite at _http://security.ziffdavis.com, so that you learn about emerging threats quickly and importance take proper precautions.

10. Be grasping of things on the Internet. Don't assume that e-mail "From:" a particular person is quite from that partner until you deem further reason to believe it's that comrade. Don't assume that an crush is what it says it is. Don't give out your password to anyone, even if that man claims to be from "support."